Brighton Festival 2007

Arthur Oppenheimer

Dream of Gerontius

What an outstanding climax to the Brighton Festival.  Sir Andrew Davis conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Brighton Festival Choir in Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius which is essentially the story of a man’s death and the subsequent travels and travails of his soul after death – comforted by an angel.  The music is set to a poem written by Cardinal Newman and even to a sometimes agnostic like me contains some wonderfully reassuring lines

The evening was fantastic - the male soloists (Peter Sidom, James Gilchrist) were very good but the strongest and most convincing performance must go to Catheryn Wyn-Rogers who sung the part of the angel with reassuring strength and compassion.

Pride of place goes to Sir Andrew Davis – with controlled power he made the large orchestra and chorus produce great music without any unnecessary fanfares or flourish. 

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His rapport with the orchestra and (as sincerely) with the composer came through as a ribbon of understanding between choir, orchestra and audience culminating in a finale that he produced with amazing sensitivity.  A truly memorable evening.